Termite tenting cost: $2,000 to $8,000 (HomeGuide 2026)
Termite tenting costs $2,000 to $8,000 for an average 2,000 sq ft home in HomeGuide's 2026 guide, at $1 to $4 per square foot.
This Old House puts fumigation at $1,500 to $5,000, and tented heat treatment runs $2,000 to $6,000 (HomeGuide).
Key numbers
- $1 to $4 per sq ftWhole-home tentingHomeGuide, Nov 2025
- $2,000 to $8,000Gas fumigation (tented)HomeGuide, Nov 2025
- $1,500 to $5,000FumigationThis Old House, Jun 2026
Quoted a tent? Call the pest control line, give the square footage and stories, and ask for the fumigation price and the tentless alternatives side by side.
| Job | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-home tenting | $1 to $4 per sq ft; $2,000 to $8,000 for 2,000 sq ft | HomeGuide, Nov 2025 |
| Gas fumigation (tented) | $2,000 to $8,000 | HomeGuide, Nov 2025 |
| Fumigation | $1,500 to $5,000 | This Old House, Jun 2026 |
| Fumigation (termites) | $1,570 to $2,857 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Tented heat treatment | $2,000 to $6,000; $1 to $3 per sq ft | HomeGuide, Nov 2025 |
| Heat extermination | $1,300 to $2,500 | This Old House, Jun 2026 |
| Spot or micro treatment (tentless) | $6 to $8 per sq ft | HomeGuide, Nov 2025 |
| Bait stations (tentless) | $1,000 to $2,500 plus $200 to $400 a year monitoring | HomeGuide, Nov 2025 |
| Chemical soil barrier (tentless) | $500 to $2,000+ | HomeGuide, Nov 2025 |
| Termite inspection | $0 to $250 | HomeGuide, Nov 2025 |
| Termite bond | $500 to $2,000 per year | HomeGuide, Nov 2025 |
National figures. Ask whether the quote is by square foot or by the volume under the tent; a two-story home holds more air than its floor area suggests.
Do this now: before the tent goes up
- Confirm the species. Tenting is a drywood termite method; UC IPM says subterranean colonies live in the soil, where a liquid barrier or baits are used. The signs of termites guide shows the difference.
- Get the tentless prices on the same quote. HomeGuide: spot treatment $6 to $8 per sq ft, bait $1,000 to $2,500, soil barrier $500 to $2,000 or more.
- Book a place to stay for 24 to 72 hours (HomeGuide) and pack medications.
- Remove or double-bag food, drinks and medicine unless they are in airtight containers (HomeGuide), and take every person, pet and plant out (HomeGuide, UC IPM).
- Ask about the gas, the clearance test and the warranty. UC IPM says monitored fumigation has the highest success rate and leaves no residue; Texas A&M says a standard warranty is one year with an option to extend.
Is it urgent? Tenting is planned work
Fumigation is scheduled days or weeks out, never the same day, and the termites give you time: UC IPM says a new colony may have only about 75 individuals after a year. The pressure points are a sale contract that requires clearance, and a quote that expires. Use the time for an inspection ($0 to $250, HomeGuide) and two or three bids (EPA), and ask whether a spot treatment covers the infestation found; UC IPM says localized treatments have variable results and may need callbacks, which is the trade-off against the tent.
Termite tenting, or structural fumigation, seals a house under tarps and fills it with a gas that kills drywood termites in every piece of wood at once. HomeGuide's 2026 guide: $1 to $4 per square foot, or $2,000 to $8,000 for an average home.
How much does termite tenting cost?
Termite tenting costs $2,000 to $8,000 for an average 2,000 sq ft home in HomeGuide's 2026 guide, at $1 to $4 per square foot. This Old House's fumigation range is $1,500 to $5,000 and Fixr's is $1,570 to $2,857. Tented heat treatment runs $2,000 to $6,000 in HomeGuide's figures and $1,300 to $2,500 in This Old House's. HomeGuide lists extra fees for moisture removal, repairs and cleanup after severe infestations, and the inspection and any bond are priced separately. We publish costs and what the sources say the signs mean; we do not inspect homes or say whether a home needs treatment. A pest control company licensed in your state does that on site.
Termite fumigation cost by home size
| Home size | Tenting cost |
|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | $1,200 to $4,800 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 to $6,000 |
| 1,800 sq ft | $1,800 to $7,200 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $2,000 to $8,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $2,500 to $10,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $3,000 to $12,000 |
| 4,000 sq ft | $4,000 to $16,000 |
HomeGuide, November 2025, at $1 to $4 per square foot.
A 1,500 sq ft home runs $1,500 to $6,000 and a 3,000 sq ft home $3,000 to $12,000 in HomeGuide's table. UC IPM says the time under the tent depends on the structure's volume and the amount of gas, so vaulted ceilings and a second story matter beyond the floor area; ask how the quote was figured.
Fumigation vs heat treatment
| Gas fumigation | Heat treatment | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,000 to $8,000 (HomeGuide); $1,500 to $5,000 (This Old House) | $2,000 to $6,000 (HomeGuide); $1,300 to $2,500 (This Old House) |
| Time out of the house | 24 to 72 hours (HomeGuide); several days depending on volume and gas (UC IPM) | About 8 hours including setup and teardown (HomeGuide); hours, not days (UC IPM) |
| What it reaches | Every infestation in the structure at once; kills drywood termites within several days (UC IPM) | Wood must reach 120 F for at least 33 minutes; large beams and wood on concrete or tile are heat sinks that reduce effectiveness (UC IPM) |
| Afterward | No residue, so preventive chemicals may be needed later (UC IPM) | No residue |
HomeGuide (Nov 2025), This Old House (Jun 2026), UC IPM Pest Note 7440.
Gas reaches everything and takes days; heat takes hours and can miss wood that will not warm up. UC IPM says the wood must reach a minimum of 120 F for at least 33 minutes, that large beams can take many hours or days to heat, and that wood sitting on concrete or tile acts as a heat sink. Fumigation, in UC IPM's words, treats all infestations at once and kills drywood termites within several days, with the highest success rate when monitored, and leaves no residue, so preventive treatment may be needed later.
Tenting vs spot treatment for drywood termites
Spot treatment costs $6 to $8 per square foot of treated area in HomeGuide's figures, against $2,000 to $8,000 to tent, and the choice turns on how much of the house is involved. UC IPM says localized treatments (liquids, dusts, foams, heat, electrocution, microwaves) have variable effectiveness, may need callback treatments, and depend on finding every infestation, which can mean removing walls or stucco to detect hidden ones; it also says these products should be applied only by licensed applicators and that home-use products are not effective. Texas A&M notes spot treatments often carry limited warranties that may require you to pay for additional treatment. Full method prices are in the termite treatment cost guide.
How long do you have to stay out after tenting?
Plan on 24 to 72 hours out of the house for tenting in HomeGuide's figures; UC IPM says several days depending on the structure's volume and the amount of gas, and HomeGuide says the gas takes 1 to 3 days to spread. Ask the company how re-entry is cleared before anyone goes back in. Heat treatment is about 8 hours including setup and teardown (HomeGuide).
How to prepare a house for fumigation
- Arrange somewhere to stay for 24 to 72 hours and pack essentials, especially medications (HomeGuide).
- Remove food, drinks and medicine, or seal them in the airtight bags the company provides (HomeGuide).
- Take out all people, pets and plants (HomeGuide, UC IPM).
- Seal cracks around windows and doors with tape or plastic sheeting as the company instructs, and turn off electricity, gas and water (HomeGuide).
- Ask what the company checks afterward and whether it returns to look for reinfestation (HomeGuide).
Questions before you sign a fumigation contract
- Square footage, stories and the per-cubic-foot rate, with the total in writing.
- What the warranty covers and for how long. Texas A&M: one year standard, extendable; renewals should not exceed 20 percent of the original cost.
- License number and proof of insurance. The EPA says to confirm the state license is current.
- What is excluded: detached structures, fences, a neighbor's shared wall.
- Whether the company monitors gas concentration during the job (UC IPM: monitored fumigation has the highest success rate).
Start at the pest control hub; the termite inspection cost guide covers reports for a sale. City pages: pest control in Houston, pest control in San Antonio, pest control in Dallas, pest control in Austin, pest control in New York, pest control in Atlanta, pest control in Charlotte, pest control in Denver. Calls go to an independent pest control company that serves your area and takes this kind of job; hours vary and the company quotes its own inspection or first-visit fee. How calls work.
More guides on this
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to tent a house for termites?
HomeGuide puts it at $1 to $4 per square foot, or $2,000 to $8,000 for 2,000 sq ft, in 2026. This Old House's fumigation range is $1,500 to $5,000 and Fixr's is $1,570 to $2,857.
How much is termite fumigation for a 1,500 sq ft house?
HomeGuide's table: $1,500 to $6,000. A 3,000 sq ft home runs $3,000 to $12,000. Volume, not just floor area, sets the price.
How long do you have to be out of the house for termite tenting?
HomeGuide says 24 to 72 hours; UC IPM says several days depending on the house volume and the amount of gas. Heat treatment is about 8 hours (HomeGuide).
Is heat treatment cheaper than tenting?
HomeGuide prices tented heat at $2,000 to $6,000 against $2,000 to $8,000 for gas; This Old House has heat at $1,300 to $2,500 and fumigation at $1,500 to $5,000. UC IPM notes heat can miss wood that will not reach 120 F.
Does tenting kill subterranean termites?
Tenting is a drywood termite method. UC IPM says subterranean colonies live in the soil and are treated with liquid barriers or baits, priced in the termite treatment cost guide.
What do I have to do before fumigation?
HomeGuide: arrange 24 to 72 hours away, pack medications, remove or seal food and medicine, take out people, pets and plants, and turn off electricity, gas and water as instructed.
Does fumigation keep termites from coming back?
No. UC IPM says fumigation leaves no residue, so preventive chemicals may be needed afterward, and HomeGuide lists annual programs at $200 to $900 a year.
Have the square footage and the quote? Call the pest control line and ask for a second fumigation price and the spot-treatment alternative.
- 1Call the line
- 2It rings a local company
- 3They give you the price
Before you book
- License numberAsk for it, then check it with the state board.
- Written priceGet the visit fee and the job price in writing before work starts.
- Proof of insuranceAsk for the certificate, especially for roof, tree and electrical work.
Sources (8)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Termite Tenting Cost? (2026) (2025-11-21)
- This Old House: How Much Does Termite Treatment Cost? (2026-06-17)
- Fixr: Pest Control Cost (2025-01-31)
- UC IPM Pest Notes: Drywood Termites (Publication 7440) (2014-08)
- UC IPM Pest Notes: Subterranean and Other Termites (Publication 7415) (2014-05)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Frequently Asked Questions About Subterranean Termite Control (ENT-2002) (2018-03-08)
- EPA: Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety, Choosing a Pest Control Company (EPA 735-F-05-010) (checked 2026-10-11)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Termite Treatment Cost? (2026) (2025-11-21)
Talk to a pest control company who serves your area
Have the address, what pest you are seeing (or the signs), where in the house, and whether you rent or own. The company will quote its inspection or first-visit fee before anything is booked.
Free call to an independent company in your area that takes this kind of work.